The MLS-4X 'Commando'.

An expendable, shoulder-mounted, laser-guided anti-tank missile launcher, it has seen extraordinary changes throughout its service history.

Another support weapon to be redesigned from the ground up, the MLS-4X 'Commando' of today diverges from its predecessor greatly. Under the same designation, the MLS-4X from the First Galactic War served a significantly different purpose. Henceforth referred to as the MLS-4X MK3, Super Earth engineers from the First War designed it to serve an anti-personnel role, as opposed to its anti-tank role of today.

The MLS-4X MK3 features four tubes loaded with eight sixty-six-millimeter High-Explosive-Armor-Piercing missiles, though the AP capabilities are limited, requiring multiple launches to ensure an effective elimination on heavy armor. Two missiles to each tube, each missile is electronically fired, all fitted with an IR sensor suite to lock onto the hottest heat signature available.

Initially conceived as an anti-personnel support weapon, each missile contains a larger HE payload in comparison to its AP capabilities, allowing for a greater explosive radius for area of effect damage. Further cementing its role at the time was its rate of fire, largely in part due to its smaller-than-average missiles and high magazine capacity, the MLS-4X MK3 has the ability to be emptied quickly should the need be, annihilating most, if not all foes under its weight of ordnance.

Approaching the Second Galactic War, the MLS-4X 'Commando' of today found its role reversed, leaning heavier on its anti-tank role. Though retaining its four missile tubes and rate of fire, Super Earth engineers dropped its eight sixty-six-millimeter missile capacity down to four in exchange for full-length and payload H.E.A.T missiles. Continuing its divergence from the anti-personnel role, each missile now contains a payload consisting of a shaped charge lined with copper, creating a jet of molten metal to pierce most materials.

For simpler handling and more predictable results, the IR sensor suite was exchanged for a laser-guided system, allowing the Helldiver to pick and choose their targets. By 'painting' their target with the built-in laser module, any missile subsequently launched will follow the laser till the target is hit. Should the need be, the laser-guidance module onboard the MLS-4X has the ability to be disabled and enabled at any time, swapping between 'dumb-fire' and laser-guided at the Helldiver's will.

This rendition of the MLS-4X also finds itself to be an expendable piece of equipment as reflected in its cheap and efficient housing. Its spartan accommodations only allow enough to house its four sixty-six-millimeter H.E.A.T missiles, the laser-guidance module, and its electronic trigger. Once all of its ordnance is used, it is intended to be disposed of immediately. Though, due to that same nature, the MLS-4X can be repeatedly requisitioned in a short span of time, allowing for effective H.E.A.T munitions to be on hand as soon as it is needed.

Facing significant changes throughout the century, there is one aspect of the support weapon that remains unaltered,

Its ability to spread Democracy and Freedom.

The MLS-4X 'Commando'.

"Two Galactic Wars and counting!" - 'Admiral Defense Contracting'.

Within the Abydos Courtyard

"Could do with a little work, but nothing beats accuracy by volume of fire!" I commented with a smirk.

After the little drill I had Shiroko and Hoshino go through, I had them review the grouping of their bursts.

"Though, Sensei-" Shiroko began, lifting up a piece of the plywood target. "-There's not much to go off of this."

True to the white wolf's words, you can't exactly review much off of a target that's been effectively reduced to wood pulp.

"...Right." I instead pointed at the support weapons in their hands. "Then, how about feel? How're they treating you two?"

Hoshino hoisted the MG-43 over her shoulder. "It kicks like a mule, but nothing this Oji-san can't handle."

Shiroko nodded as she fiddled with the feed cover. "Especially on its fastest setting." Then she looked to me with glitter in her eyes. "Can we get more ammo for these guns?"

Without pause, I inputted the pattern for a resupply into my terminal and tossed the requisite strategem beacon behind me.

"By the way, Sensei?" Hoshino asked as she brought the MG-43 back into her arms.

I nodded her way. "What's up?"

Her eyes followed the pillar of light to the sky. "You've been calling in these, uh, strategems, an awful lot, don't you have a limit?"

I shook my head as I jabbed a thumb at myself. "Helldivers have the entire arsenal of Super Earth at their disposal, no questions asked." Then I shrugged. "Or at least till they expire."

They recoil at that last part.

"Expire?" Ayane asked as she approached from behind me. "What about expiring?"

As the resupply pod breached atmosphere and subsequently lodged itself into the sand a few meters off from us, I turned her way.

"Just discussing the nature of Helldivers."

She gives me a look. "That being?"

Shiroko interjected. "About how he has an entire arsenal at his disposal."

Hoshino was next. "Until they-" With air quotes. "-Expire."

"Expire?" Ayane questioned as she glanced my way.

I coughed into my hand through my helmet. "Anyways, where's Serika?" I glanced around the sandy landscape. "Wasn't she supposed to be here to get acquainted with the GL-21?"

The trio give me a stare before deciding to not push it.

"She left for her part time job!" This time the lively blonde decided to chime in.

I nodded her way.

Then she pouted. "How come you didn't bring me along?"

I eyeballed the minigun strapped over her shoulder. "I thought you had a complete grasp over your support weapon." I jabbed a thumb over at Shiroko and Hoshino, support weapons still in hand. "Those two however..."

Nonomi glanced up as if thinking before nodding with a smile. "If you say so, Sensei."

I nodded as I walked over to the Hellpod. "That I do."

"By the way..." I trailed off as I hovered over the supply boxes. "What have you all been doing with the, uh, stims?"

Ayane shook her head. "Well, we didn't know what to do with them, so we've just been leaving them in the fridge."

"The fridge?" I questioned.

She nodded. "You told us that they're some sort of stimulant that rapidly speeds up the healing process of the body, right?"

"Right."

"So I figured that they might need refrigeration to maintain efficacy."

I nodded along, looks like she isn't the Task Force's medic for no reason.

"Aha~, so that's what was taking up all that space in that fridge." Hoshino pointed out as she scratched her head.

Shiroko glanced at me. "Do you use them often?"

I glanced at her and the rest of the girls, as Shiroko's question opened up further intrigue into the stimulants.

I shook my head. "Only when I need to."

She tilted her head, with one of her ears drooping. "And when does that happen?"

"Whenever I sustain a critical injury, or when I need a boost in my step."

This gains me a look from the medic. "Critical injury... and a boost in your step?" She raised a brow. "Sensei, are you sure those, stims, of yours are not addictive?"

I nodded. "Of course! PermaCura guarantees that the combat stimulants they produce are non-addictive."

"Perma... Cura?" Hoshino asked.

"Correct, the leading corporation to specialize in life-saving treatments back home, and that's including the stimulants the Helldiver Corps is issued."

Her eyes narrowed. "That all the more makes it more suspicious."

I waved a finger. "I won't tolerate any bad-mouthing of Super Earth corporations; they have our best interests in mind!"

"Ooooookay?" Ayane continued as she strode over to the supply boxes, a newfound intrigue for the curious yellow boxes.

Grabbing two boxes, I tossed them towards Shiroko and Hoshino. "Load up your support weapons with those and keep hammering away till you can operate them like you've always had 'em!"

Shiroko nodded as she tore into the supply box, pulling out small boxes of 5.5x50 FMJ and belt-links.

"Also." Hoshino began as she tore into her own and held up a box of 8x60 FMJ. "How do you know who gets what box? They seem to always have what we need."

I shrugged. "That I don't know the specifics. But-" I began as I lifted a finger to the air. "-What I do know, is that Super Earth logistics never lets you down!"

She opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately closes it before shrugging. "Whatever brings the ammo to the table, I guess."

I nodded. "Indeed!" I turned back towards Nonomi, who has a hand on a stim, her eyes pouring over the details of the cylindrical device. "So, what's this about Serika and her part time job?"

Looking up from the stim, she handed it back to Shiroko, who grabs it without looking up from her belt links. "Oh, Serika began working more often at a ramen place, Shiba Seki Ramen, I think it was called?"

'Ramen?' I thought to myself.

"Ramen?" I then asked aloud.

She nodded. "Ramen!"

"You do know what ramen is, right?" Ayane asked as she held up the empty supply box.

I placed a hand on my chin. "Refresh my memory."

A quick glance was cast my way before Nonomi dug into her sweater pocket, pulling away with her phone. Typing away at it a few times, she turned it my way. "This!"

Taking up the small device, on its screen was bowls of said ramen. Each image showcasing different renditions of the food item, but all ultimately being the same thing.

"Ramen, huh?" I muttered as I returned the phone.

Pocketing her phone, she looked back at me. "Are you hungry, Sensei?"

I shook my head. "Nope, just curious." Then I raised a brow, an idea coming to mind. "How about we take a little visit?"

"Do you just want to take a look around?" Hoshino chimed in, still working the eight-millimeter cartridges into the belt links on top of a tarp laid on the sand.

"Yup." I answered as crouched down next to her. "No better time like the present to get acquainted with the lay of the land." I glanced at all the girls. "You all want to come with?"

Ayane shook her head. "Not today, unlike Serika, we still have schoolwork to do."

"So that's why she's not present?"

She nodded. "Yes, she finished her work ahead of time." Then she scratched her cheek. "Something a bit unlike her."

Shiroko snorted at the comment as she continued linking cartridges to the belt links.

I grunted as I got to my feet. "Solo op this time around, then."

"Do you have a map of the place? Abydos is notorious for being a maze for the unprepared." Hoshino noted as she looked up from her work.

"Map..." I trailed off as I took out the Shittim Chest. Facing the screen my way, I find Arona ready to rock with a map of the land, further extending the one she had acquired the day prior. With a thumbs up my way, she posted it on screen, placing a map marker where Shiba Seki Ramen stood, and a yellow marker for us.

I nodded her way before turning back to Hoshino. "That I do, just got one right now."

Hoshino continued working the ammo into a belt. "So you're heading out now?"

"Yup, best time to scout is when the sun's still out."

She smiled my way as she looked back up. "Pfft, that one rhymed."

"That it did." I replied as I turned and waved. "You girl's keep practicing!"

Within the Abydos District

Shittim Chest in hand, I followed Arona's map marker towards a more populated part of the district, though that's putting it a bit heavy. Abandoned houses and businesses still pock-marked the area, but there's at least people walking around.

Describing them as people would also be putting it on heavy. Walking around were anthropomorphic cats and dogs, some dressed in business wear, some dressed in more traditional garb by the looks of things, but all without pants, surprisingly.

What required the absolute willpower of me was the sight of Automatons. This world's rendition of them anyways. Lacking any identifiers of the socialist scum, they were more... civilian, dressed in casual or formal wear, they walked, talked and acted like any other citizen.

"Sensei?" Arona called out to me, muffled under my chestplate.

I moved my hand to grab her before noticing that my 'Breaker' was in hand, my grip clasped around the pistol grip so tightly that I could hear the fabric of my glove creak under pressure. Dropping it, my sling is pulled taut as I finally grabbed the Shittim Chest.

Wait, when did I...?

"What's up, Arona?"

She gave me a worried glance. "Your heartrate shot up again when you put me into your chestplate, just like last time. Did something happen?"

I looked at her before glancing back at the passersby. "Nothing, just a case of seeing ghosts."

Another worried look crossed her face before I finally convinced her that nothing was up. As I walked down the street, I found myself tensing up every time an Automaton... robot, I suppose, crossed my path or just happened to be walking the same speed as me.

What threw me off for a loop was the fact that a few had the courtesy to greet me, the occasional wave or nod was sent my way, each time setting off alarm bells in my head.

I'm then nudged violently to the side as something hard runs into my shoulder.

"Hey, watch it bub-!"

In a swift motion, my hand found its way wrapped around the grip of my 'Breaker' once more, the business end of it subsequently shoved into the face of my aggressor.

Recoiling in shock, their face... display, showed off some sort of emotion before raising their hands defensively.

"Hi-hieek!" They screeched, their voice robotic and static-y. "P-please don't hurt me!"

Super Earth discipline and training dictated that I show no quarter to my enemies, but as I stared down the bot at the end of my barrel, all I found was a trembling non-combatant, no matter how... metallic, they may seem.

I glanced around, noticing that I've gathered quite the crowd.

"Hey, isn't that Sensei?" One of the onlookers commented.

Another nodded. "Yeah, now that you say it, that does look like Sensei."

A passerby nudged the other's shoulder. "What's he doin' around these parts?"

I unhooked my finger from the trigger, resting it on the trigger guard as I pulled the barrel away from their face.

Still trembling, their eyes remained locked onto my visor as they slowly lowered their hands. "A-are, are you letting me go?"

I nodded as I let my sling catch my 'Breaker'. "Just watch where you're going next time."

The robot nodded vigorously before running off into a random direction. Just as they left, I glanced around, the crowd still murmuring and watching me with judgmental eyes.

I cleared my throat before raising my voice. "Nothing to see here, citizens, move along."

A few more murmurs filled the air before they finally dispersed, giving me room to breathe.

"Sensei..." Arona whispered from behind the screen.

I lifted the Shittim Chest up to meet her. "Sorry you had to see that, Arona."

"..."

I shook my head slightly. "It's... it's a really bad case of seeing ghosts..."

"Is this..." She began, a hand held to her chin. "Is this from when you were deployed on other planets? When you still fought?"

I nodded hesitantly. "Yes... looks like it follows me, even here."

A weak smile crosses her. "Well, you're safe here, Sensei."

I sighed as I moved my feet towards our marker. "Thanks, Arona."

She beamed a smile. "Anytime, Sensei."

Navigating the maze that is the Abydos district, I finally make it to my destination.

"Shiba Seki Ramen." I read aloud from the sign emblazoned on the front of the building.

"Are you hungry now, Sensei?" Arona grinned as she pointed towards a standing sign, the offerings of the establishment posted onto it for all to browse.

Stepping closer, I leaned down to take in the images. Just like what Nonomi showed me earlier, the images on the sign were that of bowls of steaming ramen, garnished with whatever is offered.

As if on cue, my stomach grumbled, sending another grin across my digital assistant's face.

I shrugged as I glanced back at the front of the store. Rather than a door, a sort of curtain stood in place, with its namesake, 'Shiba Seki Ramen', sown into the fabric.

"I suppose a bowl wouldn't hurt."

Lifting up one of the curtains, I stepped inside, the warm and cozy vibes immediately washing over me. Through my helmet's filters wafted a heavenly scent.

I took in the smell as I scanned the restaurant, empty tables and bars orderly arranged, all equipped with the standard amenities of a sit-down establishment.

"Welcome to Shiba Seki-!" A familiar voice began before cutting themself off as they caught sight of me.

I waved a hand her way. "Fancy meeting you here, Serika." A grin crossed me behind my helmet.

She glared daggers my way as she strangled her notepad. "What are you doing here?"

"Just getting familiar with the lay of the land."

Her razor-sharp gaze maintained its edge. "And that somehow led you here? Specifically?"

I merely shrugged. "Anyhow, you work as a waitress here?" I looked her up and down. "The uniform suits you."

"Ew, gross!" She cried as she took a step back. "You're gross!"

I raised a brow at her reaction.

Then a deep voiced boomed from the back. "Quit troubling our customers, Serika!"

That straightened the black cat out quickly. "Y-yes! Master Shiba!"

With a strained smile, she picked up a menu from her desk as she waved a hand towards a table. "Right this way... dear customer."

I suppressed a laugh, for whatever reason, teasing her is pretty fun.

Setting down the menu at a single seater table, she turned around with a huff. "I'll be back with your water."

Taking a seat, I lifted up the menu to acquaint myself with the restaurant's offerings. Eyeballing the menu, Serika returned with a glass pitcher of water, condensation dripping off the ice-cold surface. Setting it down, alongside a single cup filled with ice, she held up her notepad and pen before side-eyeing me.

"Figured out what you want to order?"

I narrowed my eyes as I continued staring at the menu, hoping a decision would finally come up magically. Giving up, I looked up back at her.

"Uh... do you have any suggestions?"

She gave me a look before rolling her eyes, placing her notepad and pen into her apron pouch. Then she turned the menu around in my hands before pointing at one of the bowls.

"This one." She supplied.

I looked at the suggestion. "Chashu?"

She nodded. "Chashu."

"I'll try one of these, then."

With a nod, she took the menu, placing it under her armpit as she took up her notepad and pen, subsequently writing down my order and tearing out the piece of paper.

With another huff, she headed off for the back.

Slumping back into my seat, I glanced at the water pitcher and the glass filled with ice.

"Chashu ramen, eh?" Arona commented from behind her screen.

Propping the Shittim Chest up against the water pitcher, I came face to face with my cheeky assistant.

I nodded. "Couldn't figure out what I wanted, so I referred to her experience."

She shrugged. "Well, it's a staple, so it's a good starting place!"

Then her face grew something stern, as she walked to the side of the screen, leaning off to the side as if getting a better look at something behind me.

I craned my head around. "See something?"

Then I got a good look at what she saw. Outside the window stood a few of the dissidents we took out yesterday. As much as they tried to not look the part, they were still the most suspicious looking group for miles around, doubly so in a sparsely populated area of the district.

Turning back around, I glanced back at Arona. "Think you can contact the rest of the Task Force? By the looks of things, they're here to ambush someone." Then I looked in the direction of the kitchen. "And something tells me it's for Serika."

Arona nodded. "On it! It'll take a few moments though, connection's weaker, especially since we're farther from the school!"

I grimaced. "Hopefully they come around before closing."